City of Battle Ground Clark County, Washington

Name: City of Battle Ground
Address: Washington

A brisk little trading center, with a grain elevator and one of the largest cheese factories in the State. About 1888 August H. Richter built a store here and founded the town. The surrounding plains were used by the Hudson’s Bay Company and, later, by the United States Army for pasture lands.

Battle Ground is a small town with nearby lakes, streams and forest service areas offering many recreational opportunities. The city’s name comes from a battle that never took place. In 1855, some Klickatat tribal members escaped from Fort Vancouver and Captain Strong headed up the army in charge of bringing the Native Americans back. Upon meeting with the Native Americans, their chief, Chief Umtuch, promised Strong that the Native Americans would return to the fort. When Chief Umtuch was unexpectedly killed, Strong allowed the Native Americans to bury him, and the Native Americans returned to the fort. In thanks for not forcibly bringing them back, Captain Strong was presented a petticoat for bravery and courage. This area later became known as “Strong’s Battle Ground.”

Mapped Location

City of Battle Ground: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.

Information

General information on City of Battle Ground

Feature Type: Incorporated

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for City of Battle Ground

A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named

Name	Description
City of Battle Ground	Official
Battle Ground	Official

Origin Notes and History of City of Battle Ground

References to City of Battle Ground that document the origin of its place name

BATTLE GROUND, a town in Clarke County. Aug. H. Richter writes (Names MSS., Letter 538): "In early days, forty or forty-five years ago, the Indians drove off live stock across the Lewis. River three miles north of this place. The grandchild of Chief Jack told me the whole story thirty years ago. The Twenty-first Infantry from Vancouver was ordered out and there was fighting all around here. The soldiers received orders in the morning to shoot all Indians on sight. While the scouts were out, peace was declared, but they did not know it, and accidentally shot and killed the chief. In 1886, I built a store here and called it Battle Ground Store. In 1902, I platted the place."

Edmond S. Meany in Origin of Washington Geographic Names

Meany, Edmond S., Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923 University of Washington, pp 15 | Origin of Washington Geographic Names

Clark County

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2026-09-27